Why don't you hear more about

SilverFoxKnows

SilverFoxKnows

Joined
Sep 25, 2002
Messages
3,179
the JKM-1 and Kumar Karda on the general blade discussion? Hand forged, best guy in the business and very reasonably priced. What's not to love? Are they not "tactical" enough for the masses? They don't come with kydex and G-10? Or do people hear HI and think Khukuri? I don't get it:confused:

Frank
 
Frank-- I'd be really curious to see what kind of response this would get if you posted it over in the blade discussion forum as well. I think your analysis is fairly correct. I've found that very functional knives often lack the tacticality to be popular with the majority of forumites.
--Josh
 
Would a horn-handled, mustard-dipped Kumar Karda be considered "tactical"?:)


I really like my carved wood-handled KK ... I just had to share that.
 
Would a horn-handled, mustard-dipped Kumar Karda be considered "tactical"? :)
Click to expand...

I'm betting it'll fit in just fine with my field dressing tactics. :p

I suspect the reason we don't see them mentioned over on the general discussion forum is because those of us who appreciate them tend to congregate in this one.

I'm going to test the "sheepability" of my JKM-1 in the near future by accessorizing my ranger uniform with it. :D
 
Any chance of some comparison pics of a Kumar Karda & JKM-1 next to a BAS so we can all gain a little better perspective of these little knives - the pics Raggy posted really impressed me, that Kumar Karda looks really nice, I had the impression it was much smaller !!
 
They're not tanto-styled chisel-ground CPM-440v blades, cryo-tempered and given a bead blasted finish. Oh yeah, don't forget, they don't have a ninja-style back-sheath and shuriken accessories.

Although, to be honest, if I were going to use a straight knife for fighting I'd feel much safer if there were a small guard to prevent my hand from sliding onto the blade - which both the JKM and Karda lack. But I get the impression that the JKM and Karda weren't meant to be combat blades in the first place, so...
 
But the carved wood handle on the KK would do fine to prevent most slips when wet or slippery.

Never had a JKM-1, but don't doubt I'd like it if I did own one. Likewise though I had a Kumar Karda and liked it well. But I wanted a folding tactial, so sent it and some money to a forumite for a Pocket Hobbit. I'm happy, he seemed happy. And if another or two turned up at a good price who knows? I've gotten where non-forged, hand-finished knives are a comfort to have around. Yes, having that comforting feeling calm the mind.
 
I think a lot of forumites are leary of HI in general because they are concerned about quality control. Those Indian wallhangers have burned a lot of people. The Pakistan flea market specials many more. The average forumite is just not ready to accept that these are different. Some will pay thousands for a hand forged, diffentially treated knife from a name recognized maker, but they are not going to accept that Bura, Kumar, Sanu and crew are their equals. I went to the New Jersey knife club meeting with a whole mess of HI stuff and the field there split into a few camps. Me and another couple guys who had first hand HI experience, a couple guys who were impressed by what they saw and a several sceptics. If we had been able to take a few whacks at the tables there or something, I am sure I could have convinced them all.
 
Since they are a straight blade, try a slightly more Americanized horn or wood handle with a handguard or a simple fingerguard and they would take off. Give it Davy Crockett look.
 
Maybe Unca Bill should raise the price to "custom" knife level of several hundred dollars. Bet they would fly off the shelves then. Every mall ninja would have to have one.
 
Many seem to think that a knife without a finger guard is inherently unsafe. This often comes up when traditional Scandinavian knives are discussed.
Lots of people appear to think that there is only one way to hold, use and build a knife--the one that they know.

Not everybody is like that, or there wouldn't be many short guardless skinners. But that is about the only common example that I can think of without some sort of guard.

I think mrostov has a point...except that theres plenty of that kind of stuff out there already.
 
IMHO you don't hear more about the lapp style knives for a couple of reasons, and the HI ones included in this.

1. They are not "sexy", and by that I mean, no guards, plain, functional blade, somewhat boring sheath.
2. Guardless blades ARE dangerous for doing "sticking". I have sweaty hands, and they get sweatier when I am nervous, and then your hand slides onto the blade. It is not safe
3. The sheaths on the JKM and the like are more attractive then Lapp knives, but still not functional enough for "quick release", and not as safe/secure as kydex. Kydex is ugly, but it is durable.
4. MOST "tac" users seem to prefer stainless steel, and I would say that is the biggest factor.

Regards,

Steven
 
" Guardless blades ARE dangerous for doing "sticking". I have sweaty hands, and they get sweatier when I am nervous, and then your hand slides onto the blade. It is not safe"

True only if one insists on applying the force with the hand holding the knife and doesn't push with a thumb or finger against the pommel. Force can also be applied by pushing against the pommel with the heel of the other hand.--if the pommel doesn't have some sharp spike, "skull-cracker" or other "tactical" gizmo poking out of it. If the hands are cold and numb or the handle is very slippery that's safest IMO. There's usually more than one way to do something. And sometimes a guard is just in the way.

One can argue that one-handed unsheathing, upside-down carry, and one handed sticking are important in some instances, and it's true and they are rare.

If all my tools were "tactical", that is optimized for fighting humans, and reacting to attackers, then I'd have a bunch of tools that were pretty much useless for anything else that seldom, if ever got used. Better to buy and carry one knife like that if needed, and another that's a useful tool, I think.
 
The only people I've ever stuck with a knife is me. :( Except for that guy I attacked with the plastic KFC knife. :D No blood was shed so it doesn't count.
 
hearing about many cops sneaking up on the bad guys and stabbing him in the kedneys. Not lately.

I see a lot of running around in black PJ's and kind of acting like ninjas or storm troopers.

I have a couple of knives with guards on them. One I bought and one I was presented to try and clean up and sharpen. I finally got a phone call from the guy and, he said he didn't want the knife any more. I don't know what to do with it. I don't want it either. It was made in taiwan and is supposed to be a survival knife. It anin't bent and it doesn't have a cho and all of my khuks will out do this thing. It isn't even in the same ball park.

I don't need knives with guards on them mostly because if I have a real problem I will probably know about it before it comes to the use of a knife and the Model 29 S & W will handle the problem just fine. If I run into a situation where I must stab with a khuk, I will surely help out with the left hand.:)
 
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